The air in the abandoned street was thick with toxins, a faint green mist curling between the crumbling buildings, and the echo of silence felt heavier after the roar of the previous battles. Every step echoed, every breath mixed with the scent of iron and smoke.
Milo stood still, eyes fixed on Toxifar, his body tense, ready for any movement.
Toxifar smiled a cold, confident smile that spoke of arrogance and power. He said nothing, yet that gaze alone was enough to show he was prepared to throw all his strength into this fight.
Suddenly, without any warning, they both lunged at each other at incredible speed. Energy surged around them, and the air seemed to fracture under the force of their movement.
In the moment they collided, everything froze the street held its breath, the world seemed to pause, and the impact hung in the air, waiting to explode.
Faint shadows danced across the jagged surfaces, shifting with the flutter of the wind and the irregular light, giving the place a sense of unease. Tiny insects scuttled among the debris, their subtle movements punctuating the oppressive silence. Every now and then, a soft, distant creak or rustle echoed, as if the environment itself was watching, waiting.
The air between Brane and Zeric felt thick, almost tangible, charged with tension. Every breath was measured, heavy with the scent of soil and metal. The muted sunlight caught on the sharp edges of the ruins, highlighting the dust particles that floated lazily in the air.
Brane stood with his fists slightly clenched, muscles tense, scanning the surroundings with keen focus. Zeric, perched atop the massive insect, radiated a quiet, unnerving calm, his presence commanding, the creature beneath him shifting slightly as if sensing the slightest movement.
Brane stared at Zeric, Number Four, with a stern gaze filled with reproach. His voice was firm as he spoke:
"Before you do anything... you can still surrender.
What you're doing isn't right. You're endangering innocent lives, young man."
Zeric's expression softened, a trace of regret and sorrow flickering across his face.
"Yes... you're right..." he murmured.
Then, unexpectedly, he let out a loud, booming laugh, throwing himself back onto the massive insect beneath him.
"Damn... are you naive, or what?" he shouted, his voice echoing with mockery.
Brane looked at Zeric, a wave of sympathy washing over him.
"I've lived four decades, faced countless people and monsters, and made many mistakes... ones I deeply regret."
Zeric rose and looked at him again.
"I don't care," he said coldly.
Brane continued, his voice calm but firm:
"I'm sure... we can solve this problem with words alone.
So listen to me, Zeric. I am not your enemy."
Zeric stood up and removed his black cloak, tossing it aside. His clothes were loose and slightly tattered.
"Oh, very well," he said with a twisted smile. "If you want to talk that badly... why not speak with my little companion here?"
Zeric leapt into the air. The massive insect beneath him sprang forward toward him, its jaws opening wide as if trying to swallow him whole.
Brane stood firm, ready. He raised his hands, and suddenly, their size began to increase.
With immense strength, he grabbed the massive jaws of the insect, stepping back a few paces to halt its momentum, but he held it firmly in place.
While Brane successfully held the insect's jaws in place, above Zeric, another insect of equal size lifted him into the air.
He looked down at Brane.
"My, my... you're physically strong. But can you handle this?"
Zeric then threw three smaller insects, which landed on Brane's back. Brane couldn't grab them in time.
Zeric smiled, a hint of mischief in his eyes.
"Boom!"
The small insects exploded simultaneously, releasing thick clouds of smoke.
Zeric focused, eyes scanning the smoke.
"Did I... really fail?" he muttered.
Then he froze.
Brane stood firm, holding the massive insect in one hand. Its legs flailed, jaws snapping, but Brane's grip didn't waver. Dust swirled around them, yet he remained calm, dominating the scene.
Zeric's eyes widened, fear creeping in.
"Is he really this strong?" he whispered.
Brane hurled the massive insect high above Zeric. Its legs flailed, mandibles snapping wildly.
Zeric froze in panic.
"Damn it!" he shouted, twisting to avoid the falling beast.
The massive insect collided with the smaller flying one. Zeric lost his balance and tumbled to the ground. The huge insect slammed down, shaking the dirt, sending dust and stones flying.
Zeric lay dazed, the impact echoing through his chest.
Zeric slowly got to his feet, eyes scanning the fallen insect with worry.
"This bastard... he threw my insect like it was a toy," he muttered, frustration and fear mixing in his voice.
Suddenly, he glanced behind him and froze.
Brane stood there, towering and furious, his gaze locked on Zeric, radiating both strength and wrath.
Zeric sprang to his feet, panic taking over as he thrust his hands forward.
"Wait...wait!" he shouted desperately.
Brane didn't hesitate.
Without a word, he drove a powerful, direct punch straight into Zeric's stomach.
The impact sent Zeric flying backward, his body slamming hard into the massive insect behind him. A sharp gasp escaped his mouth as the air was knocked from his lungs.
He clutched his stomach, collapsing to the ground, rolling and staggering as pain surged through his body.
"Damn it..." he groaned, his voice shaking.
Brane advanced toward Zeric slowly, each step heavy and deliberate.
"Give up, young man," he said calmly. "You're not capable of enduring my blows nor of fighting at my level."
Zeric forced himself up, then spat onto the ground. He wiped the dirt from his left eye, his face twisted with hatred.
"You damn brute..."
His voice cracked as rage overflowed.
"I'll kill you. I'll kill you. I'll kill you. I'll make you regret humiliating me like this!"
Behind him, the massive insect let out a furious roar. Its body tensed, and with a deafening screech that shook the ground, it charged straight toward Brane.
Brane stood his ground, unmoving.
He placed his left hand on his shoulder as his right arm began to swell-growing massive, reaching the size of the insect's head.
A transparent surge of energy spread violently across his body, distorting the air around him.
Then he struck.
The punch landed with terrifying force, hurling the giant insect backward. Its massive body was thrown aside, crashing down near Zeric with a heavy thud.
Zeric froze in shock. He rushed to his insect, placing a hand on it as his eyes widened.
"Damn it... damn it... damn it! What is this ability?! This isn't fair you can enlarge your body?!"
Brane walked toward him with calm, steady steps.
"Give up. You've already lost."
Suddenly, Zeric burst into laughter loud and unhinged.
"Lost? We've only just begun. You haven't seen anything I'm capable of."
Without warning, the giant insect began to melt, its massive body dissolving into dark energy that flowed straight into Zeric's hand.
Brane narrowed his eyes, watching the unnatural sight carefully.
Zeric licked his hand slowly, then smiled.
"My ability allows me to create insects using my own energy."
Zeric removed the hat from his head and threw it to the ground.
He ran a hand through his messy hair, then smiled at Brane with pure malice.
"Watch closely what I'm about to do," he said coldly.
"It may be one of the last things you ever see before my insects devour you."
He raised both hands toward Brane, his posture shifting
as if preparing to unleash something dreadful.
Countless small insects burst forth from Zeric's hands some flying, others crawling across the ground rushing straight toward Brane.
Brane hadn't expected this. His eyes widened in shock.
He raised his right hand in front of his face, shielding his eyes.
The swarm thickened, completely blocking his vision.
Some of the insects reached his body, crawling and biting.
Brane swung his arm, trying to brush them away, but it was useless.
He spoke to himself, focused despite the chaos:
"That kid is physically weak... he'll likely rely on close range. I need to see him."
The insects bit into Brane from every direction.
Sharp, relentless stings spread across his body.
Suddenly... something felt wrong.
A heavy numbness crawled through his limbs.
He tried to move his arm
it didn't respond.
His leg trembled, then gave way.
Breathing became harder, muscles refusing his commands.
His eyes widened in shock.
"...What?"
He realized it instantly.
Not just pain
paralysis.
His body was still there, standing...
but it no longer obeyed him.
Suddenly, through the swarm of insects surrounding him,
a figure emerged.
Zeric.
He stepped closer, his grin wide and feral.
"Oh?" he sneered.
"It looks like you can't move at all!"
Zeric laughed at Brane's predicament.
"No use... you'll remain like this for a while. But you seem confused shocked that I'm standing beside you instead of fleeing?"
Brane's features tightened with tension and anger.
Zeric laughed louder.
"You're foolish. I suppose you thought I'm a long-range fighter or just some summoner?"
He placed his left hand over his chest.
"I am Zeric, Number Four, the King of Insects!"
Suddenly, Zeric's movements shifted, snapping with the precision of a trap-jaw ant. For a brief moment, a shadowy afterimage appeared behind him.
"This... giant," Zeric whispered.
Then, he struck. Lightning-fast, powerful blows rained down on Brane, spreading across his entire body.
Brane struggled to catch his breath, his left eye squinting from the pain, his entire body trembling from the rapid, powerful strikes he had taken from Zeric. Blood trickled slowly from small cuts on his arm and shoulder, and the swelling on his skin was becoming more pronounced.
Zeric stood before him, smiling coldly, his eyes gleaming with ferocity.
"Oh, so you can still move... even after all that! Congratulations!"
Brane felt a mix of anger and frustration
Zeric moves his hand with incredible speed, mimicking the movements of the giant hornet. Its shadow looms behind him as he strikes Brane's abdomen with his left hand, piercing through his energy defense and successfully wounding his skin.
Zeric tried to pull his hand back, but it felt completely stuck.
"W-what...?!"
Brane slowly raised his right hand. He coughed up some blood, breathing heavily, but finally stood tall. His gaze fixed on Zeric, terrifying and unwavering.
His hand began to swell, muscles bulging, a faint transparent energy radiating from his fist, pressing against the air like a crushing force.
"Haaaaaa-!"
He unleashed a powerful punch with all his strength.
The impact shook the ground, sending shockwaves through the surroundings and scattering dust in every direction...
But-
Zeric did not flinch.
He did not retreat.
His feet remained firmly planted.
His body trembled slightly from the blow, yet he stayed upright.
Brane's eyes widened in genuine shock.
"Impossible...! That punch should have killed a full-grown beast... at least it should have knocked you out!"
Zeric slowly lifted his head. He turned his face toward Brane, a twisted smile forming on his lips.
Blood trickled from his nose, dripping onto the ground, his eyes gleaming with dark madness.
"Heh..."
He wiped the blood with his thumb and let out a low, rough laugh.
Zeric's shadow transformed behind him into that of a massive, towering beetle, its enormous horns and armored body radiating sheer strength.
He grasped Brane in his enormous hand, lifting him high into the air.
Brane, almost losing his mind, shouted in shock:
"Impossible! How... there's only one explanation... can he really fight using the same style as the insects?!"
Zeric smirked maliciously, raising Brane slightly higher:
"Oh, you've discovered it, haven't you?"
Suddenly, he hurled Brane down to the ground with tremendous force, shaking the earth beneath him.
Before Brane could recover, Zeric pressed down on him with unrelenting strength, displaying the full power of the colossal beetle and his mastery over the fight.
Zeric laughed, his voice echoing with arrogance:
"No matter what happens, you are no match for me. It's impossible for agents like you to defeat us... the Numbers."
Suddenly, Brane's hand expanded massively. With a surge of energy, he lifted Zeric and flung him away, creating distance between them.
Zeric regained his footing and stepped back slightly, then stood firm.
"Damn... the effect of the transformation has ended," he muttered, eyes narrowing.
Brane panted heavily, trying to regain his composure.
Zeric laughed mockingly:
"It's over!"
He summoned another massive insect, leaping toward Brane, jaws wide to devour him.
At the last moment, Brane shouted:
"Tier 1 Technique: Armored Fist!"
Energy surged around his hands, intensifying the power of his strike.
Brane looked at Zeric and smiled.
"You're strong, young man... very strong."
He enlarged his hand, grabbed the insect by its neck, and squeezed it until it burst.
Zeric was shocked.
"What... haven't lose yet?"
Brane thrust his massive hand forward and grabbed Zeric with it.
"You're not strong enough to defeat me."
He pulled him closer, then punched him squarely in the face, slamming him onto the ground.
Zeric tried to use his technique to copy the abilities of a nearby insect, but Brane's momentum prevented him.
Brane delivered a series of powerful, crushing punches to Zeric's face, then slammed him into the wall with a devastating blow.
"I have protected this city for over twenty years, and I will continue to protect it as long as I live!"
Brane fell to both knees, gasping for breath.
"Is this just Number Four? He's incredibly strong. If I hadn't struck him so quickly, he could have defeated me... I wonder how powerful the other Numbers are."
Zeric lay unconscious, temporarily unable to move.
Brane struggled to stand, forcing his exhausted body upright.
"I need to hurry and call Novara's police to arrest him... before he wakes up."
Suddenly, many police officers arrived at the scene.
One of them shouted:
"There's someone here! It's Mr. Brane! He's injured treat him immediately!"
The medics gathered around him and immediately began treating his injuries.
Brane panted heavily, trying to speak.
One of the police officers stepped in front of him.
"Mr. Brane, are you out of you ok?!"
Brane coughed up blood.
"Don't worry..."
He weakly pointed his hand toward Zeric, who lay unconscious against the wall.
"Capture him now. If he wakes up... it will be the end of all of us."
A group of police officers approached Zeric. They lifted him carefully, locked solid restraints onto his wrists, and forced him onto his stomach.
"That's it!" one of them said firmly.
Brane looked toward one of the officers, still breathing heavily.
"What's happening? Is everything under control?"
The officer hesitated before answering.
"More or less... We don't know exactly what's going on with Ms. Selvara and Celestine yet."
He continued, his tone turning serious:
"As for the Fenrir Twins, their opponent Number Three is extremely dangerous. We've requested backup to stop him. He's about to reach the middle-class district, and his ability is highly destructive. We're afraid civilians might get hurt."
Brane forced himself to stand.
"Take care of this man," he said, referring to Zeric.
"I have to go help the boy... and Celestine and Selvara."
One of the healers stepped in, trying to stop him.
"But you haven't fully recovered yet."
Brane remained firm, his voice steady despite his wounds.
"No don't worry. I can still fight."
After a few minutes of Brane rushing toward Milo, Celestine, and Selvara, Zeric lay restrained under the officers' watch. His eyes suddenly snapped open, glowing faintly with anger and determination. His dark-tinged skin was smeared with dirt, and strands of sharp, dry hair stuck out wildly around his face. The tattoo on his neck seemed even more menacing now, and a twisted smile curved his lips as he assessed his surroundings, his piercing gaze scanning the officers holding him. Despite being bound, his body radiated latent power, his posture tense, ready to strike the moment an opportunity appeared.
He speaks calmly, directing his words toward one of the officers.
"You... you there."
The police are startled to realize he's awake.
"Where did that big guy go?"
He tries to move his arms, but they're tightly bound.
One of the officers grabs Zeric's head and forces it down roughly.
"Move. We don't have time for you, you insignificant trash."
"No need to resist. You can't break the cuffs you're coming with us."
Zeric lets out a chilling smile and slowly raises his head.
Inside his mouth, something can be seen moving.
One of the officers raises his weapon, aiming it straight at Zeric's head.
"What is that thing inside your mouth?"
Zeric opens his mouth, and from it emerges a giant hornet. It darts forward with incredible speed, piercing the skull of a police officer, who collapses to the ground, dead.
The other officers are frozen in terror at the sight.
"What... what is this?!" one of them exclaims.
The hornet strikes one officer after another with deadly precision. Finally, one of the remaining officers manages to kill it.
But before he can react further, Zeric steps forward, slamming his head with brutal force into the officer, sending him crashing to the ground.
The strength of the restraints had been draining Zeric's energy, so he could barely summon a Cutter Ant from his mouth. The ant sliced through the handcuffs from the inside, freeing Zeric.
Zeric smiled wickedly and began moving his hands freely again.
He laughed loudly: "Damn... that giant affected me more than I expected!"
He sat on the ground, taking a deep breath, and added, "I'll rest a little... and wait for Number One's orders."
The bodies strewn around Zeric were a testament to the violence and chaos he had unleashed. Some victims lay on their backs, their skin torn from insect attacks, while others were contorted unnaturally, eyes wide open, their faces frozen in the shock of their final moments. Blood was drying on the ground, leaving dark, glistening stains in the dim light. The atmosphere was heavy, saturated with the smell of iron, smoke, and dust, as if the very air carried anger and danger. The whispers of the wind and the distant groans of the remaining wounded added an ominous sense of dread and anticipation.
The abandoned street remained thick with the lingering scent of smoke and iron, dust still swirling lazily in the faint green mist. The chaos from earlier battles hadn't reached this corner yet, leaving a tense calm hanging between Milo and Toxifar.
Milo's fists were clenched, muscles taut, eyes never leaving Toxifar. Every breath he took was measured, heavy with anticipation. He was ready to react to any sudden move, fully aware that this was a fight of skill and precision, not raw power.
Toxifar mirrored his stance, a cold, calculating gaze fixed on Milo. His lips curled into a faint, confident smile, yet his body remained still, coiled like a spring. Neither of them made a move to unleash their supernatural abilities; this clash was a test of reflexes, strategy, and physical combat.
The sound of their boots against the cracked concrete echoed faintly, mingling with the distant rumbles and crashes from the ongoing battle between Brane and Zeric. Dust rose with every careful step they took, and the muted sunlight caught on the edges of the ruins, casting sharp, jittering shadows that danced around them.
Every glance, every subtle movement carried weight. The air between them was thick with anticipation, charged not with explosive power, but with the silent promise that either could strike at any moment. They were evenly matched, each aware that a single mistake could shift the balance.